Login

Angry Shanker snaps at Atanu during meeting

Vol 21, PW 4 (16 Nov 17) People & Policy

Unlike predecessor DK Sarraf, ONGC chairman Shashi Shanker is winning praise for standing up to Atanu Chakraborty, the increasingly overbearing head of the DGH.

An eyewitness tells this report of an incident during a Steering Committee on Gas Hydrates meeting at the oil ministry on October 30 when Chakraborty repeatedly complained that ONGC "is not doing its work properly." At first Shanker said nothing, then a member of his team whispered something. "Chakraborty complained to (oil secretary and the steering committee head) KD Tripathi that ONGC is not sending regular status reports on the National Gas Hydrates Programme (NGHP) on time.

ONGC countered that monthly progress reports are sent on time." Hearing this, Chakraborty turned to a colleague and asked if it was true. "Chakraborty was told ONGC reports were coming in regularly," we hear.

"However, the DGH team complained the reports were not 'presented' properly." When Chakraborty called ONGC unprofessional for not presenting the reports properly Shanker snapped. "He said if the problem was about presentation it could be addressed," we hear.

"At least the data is sent regularly." ONGC sources tell us they were happy to see Shanker challenge Chakraborty. "You should have seen Chakraborty's face," we hear.

"Shanker had the guts to respond. Sarraf would have kept quiet and vented his anger on colleagues."

More embarrassment was in store for Chakraborty. "It was decided the technical committee would meet soon," we hear. "Chakraborty asked who the members are but didn't get a reply." Sensing an opportunity Shanker asked a subordinate to list the members of the committee, of which Chakraborty is the head! ONGC accuses the DGH of holding up a $250m proposed third NGHP exploration programme (NGHP-03) to drill up to six pilot test and monitoring wells in the KG basin. Each well will be drilled to 200 to 500 metres in water depths of 1500 to 2500 metres. Reluctant to approve, the DGH argues gas hydrate production technology is still untested. But in June 2017 Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy and the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) production-tested two wells off Japan. One flowed 5000 cm/d for 12 days and the other at 200,000 cm/d for 24 days. Japan Drilling Company estimates 134-tcf of gas hydrates in Indian waters after the successful completion of NGHP-02 in 2015.

More embarrassment was in store for Chakraborty. "It was decided the technical committee would meet soon," we hear. "Chakraborty asked who the members are but didn't get a reply." Sensing an opportunity Shanker asked a subordinate to list the members of the committee, of which Chakraborty is the head! ONGC accuses the DGH of holding up a $250m proposed third NGHP exploration programme (NGHP-03) to drill up to six pilot test and monitoring wells in the KG basin. Each well will be drilled to 200 to 500 metres in water depths of 1500 to 2500 metres. Reluctant to approve, the DGH argues gas hydrate production technology is still untested. But in June 2017 Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy and the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) production-tested two wells off Japan. One flowed 5000 cm/d for 12 days and the other at 200,000 cm/d for 24 days. Japan Drilling Company estimates 134-tcf of gas hydrates in Indian waters after the successful completion of NGHP-02 in 2015.